Train dispatching system for railroads



S. N. WIGHT TRAIN DISPATCHING SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Nov. 29, 1932.

Filed Nov. 22. 1928 B Q QL OR A 'ITORNEY Patented Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES. PATENT oFFJICE szanswrox N. 'wren'r, on noonnsrnn, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR "r0 GENERAL'RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, N YORK" manna 'DI-SPATGHING SYSTEM non BAILROADS This invention relates to train dispatching systems of the synchronous selector type, and more particularly to a novel arrangement of relays forcontrollinga switch machine and the starting and entering signals at the end of apassing siding. I V I It is well understood, that it may be necessaryitohold all=of the signals at the end of a-single track section at-stop, or to clear any one of -.the signals .at the end of a ypassing siding, in systems where the movement .of trains :is entirely dispatched by wayside signal indications. Also,- in "order to expedite the movement'of "trains it is desirable ltoopcrate the trackswitches at the ends of passing sidings from a distant rpoint. In a synchronous selector train dispatching system, suchas disclosed in theprior application of Neil -iD. Preston, Ser. No. 199,325 filedJune 16,1927, the circuits through which the distancecontrolrelaysareoperated are onlymomentarily completed, and'for this reason it is desirable to employ control relays of the type whichif momentarily energizedassume a corresponding position, .and remain .in such position until energized with current, of opposite polarity.

' In accordance Wlllh the present invention it i-is;proposed to use relays of thisconstruc- ".tio-n,and to; momentarilyenergize such a .reflay with current of one polarity when it is ftojperform one particular function, and *ener- .gizesuch r-elaymomentarily with current of *the reverse polarity' when it .is to perform another function. More specifically it is proposed to .have one relay-:of thecharacter naentioned for operating the switch :machine, -toemployanothen relay of the same charac- :ter :for determining the c direction or movement of trains, and to employ a :third re- Zlay offthis character for determining-whether a signal may indicateproceedrin accordance with tra'flic conditlonsm advance thereof'or whether such signals shall. remain at stop.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of theinvention will-be in part obviousfrom the accompanying 1 drawing and will in part be pointed out in the specification hereinafter.

nOne embodiment of: the present invention tionally illustrated.

chine SME conventionally shown b dotted rectangle. operated to its normal position in th e;event that *thenormal wire N isenergized and is has been illustrated :in the single'figure of the drawing, in which the apparatus :in thedis patchers o-fiice has been conventionallyshown and includedwithin a .dotted rectangle, and in which the way station apparatus at one end .of the passing siding has been convery Referring toltheidrawing it will .be noted that one end .of the passing siding PS lead ing into ,a single track section ;O of .a single track railway has been illustrated. That portionof the railway track ,cornprisingthe detector track circuit including battery 3 and detector track relayDE,has been insulatedfrom ,the rest of the track by insulating 5 o1nts 4,.the'usual cross bondingof the rails having been omitted for convenience. l he main and dwarf, starting signals have :been designated 2 and 2 respectively. Similarly, the main entering si nal has been designated 1 and the take-siding signal has been desig- .natedl I V, 7

It is understood that these signals ,jform part of the usual type ofabsolute-pennissiveblocksignallin-g systems, in whichtheenterl5 ingsignalsat opposite ends of a single track end only at a particular time. Forconvenience .the .absolute-permissivehlock sign-a1- .ling Wiring has been omitted, this haying Lbeen conventionally represented by. thehome :35 relays. 1H and 2H ,which home relays be controlled as disclosed in said Wight pplication. q

, The-track switch at the east end of the f passing siding IShasbeen designated SE 1 and is preferably operated by aswitch;mla-

t e This switch flmachine is '95 operated to the reverse or take-sjidin'g position in the event the reverse-wire R is energized, one. or the other of these wires Nor It being-connected to the positive terminalQof-a :suitable battery, or other source, depending 100 upon the position of the switch machine relay SMR at that time.

The signals 1, 1 2, and 2 are controlled in accordance with the position of the switch machine SME, the position of the direction relay DR and the position of the signal relay SR, and depending upon traffic conditions in advance of such signals as determined by the condition of energization of the home relays 1H and 2H. The wayside station equipment also includes a battery 9 for transmitting an OS indication to the dispatchers office DO when the detector track circuit at said Wayside station is occupied.

In the dispatchers office is provided a miniature track layout, of which one end of the passing siding 128 only has been illustrated. This miniature track layout in practice conforms in every detail to the actual track layout, indicating lamps corresponding to the various detector track circuits, or other track sections, being employed, of which the indicating lamp IE corresponding to the detector track circuit shown only has been illustrated. Associated with the east end of the passing siding p8 of the miniature track layout are a switch machine lever LSME and a direction signal lever LDE. The positions of these levers determine the position of the relay SMB and SRDR, respectively, in a manner as more clearly pointed out hereinafter.

The synchronous selector system, whereby the distant control relays are controlled over a single line circuit, has, for convenience, been conventionally illustrated by the two selector or distributor arms, one of which is for convenience called a selector arm SA, and the other of which is for convenience called a distributor arm DA. This synchronous selector system may be one or any suitable type, for instance, such as shown in the Preston application above referred to, and in this system, the arms SA and DA are either rotatedin synchronism continuously, are at rest part of the time and rotated at other times, or as disclosed in said Preston application the selector arm SA rotates at all times and the distributor arm DA operates only when required.

In order to get a more clear understanding of the present invention it is deemed expedient to briefly consider the operation of the system.

0pe-rati0n.Let us assume that there is a train standing on the main track of a passing siding PS, and that the dispatcher wishes this train to proceed into the single track section 0. In order to do so, he will move his lever LDE to the right-hand position, signifying east bound movement, and thereby momentarily close the following circuit for the direction relay DR :beginning at the battery 10, wires 11, 12, and 13, lever contact LDE, wire 14, contact 8 selector arm SA, message wire 15, distributor arm DA, distributor contact al wire 16, winding of the direction relay DR, wires 17, 18, and 19 to the common return wire C connected to the mid-point of battery 10. The momentary application of current of positive polarity to this relay does not change the position of its contact, because it has already assumed the corresponding position.

An instant later during the rotation of the arms SA and DA, namely, when these arms reach the stationary contacts 8 and (Z respectively, the following circuit for the signal relay SR is momentarily completed beginning at the battery 10, wires 11, 12, 20, and 21, lever contact 22 in its right-hand position, wire 23, contacts 8 andSA, wire 15, contacts DA and (Z wire 24, winding of the signal relay SR, wires 25, 26, 18, 19 and C, to the mid-point of battery 10. Momentary completion of these circuits causes the signal relay SR to move to its right-hand position, but does not change the position of the direction relay DR, because it already assums its right-hand east bound position.

It may be pointed out here that these relays SMR, SR and DR are polar relays employing soft iron armatures and permanent magnets, together with coils for diverting the flux of the permanent magnet to operate the armature in one direction or the other, depending on the polarity of the current, where the armature will remain until changed by flow of current of opposite polarity, such for instance, as shown in the patent to Hubinger No. 786,901 granted April 11, 1905.

With these relays SR and DR in their right hand positions, the following circuit for the signal 2 is completed, assuming, of course, that traffic conditions in advance are favorable and that home relay 2H is energizedz beginning at the terminal B of a suitable source of current, contact 30 of the signal relay SR in its right hand position, wire 31, contact 32 of the relay DB in its right-hand position, wires 33 and 34, switch machine contact 35, wire 36, neutral contact 37 of the home relay 2H, polar contact 38 of this same home relay, wire 39, signal mechanism ofsignal 2, to the common return wire C connected to the other terminal of said source of current.

Clearing of the signal 2 informs the engineer of the train on the main track of passing siding PS that he may proceed into the single track section 0. Passage of the train in question by the signal 2, effects deenergization of the detector track relay DE and causes the indicating relay IIt in the dis patchers office D0 to be energized through the following circuit :beginning at the battery 9, wire 40, contacts (Z and DA, message wire 15, contacts SA and 8*, wire 41, winding of the indicating relay IR, wires 42, C, 19 and 43, back contact 44 of the detector track relay DE, Wire 45 back to the battery 9.

It is noted that the circuit just traced as not to assume itsde-energized .position during the intervening period sothat this indicating relay IR is continuously energized so long as thedetector track relay DE remains de-energized; With the indicating re-' lay IR energized the indicating lamp. IE

is illuminated through the medium of a circuit readily traced in the drawing. .lf the train'in question passes off of'the detector track circuit the indicating lamp IE is again extinguished for obvious reasons.

Let us now assume that the dispatcher wishes to return the signal 2 to its stop position. In order to accomplish this, he will move his lever LDE back to its neutral position in which the following circuit for the signal relay SR is momentarily completed beginning .at the negative.terminal-of the battery 10,wi'rcs16, 47, and 48, lever contact 22. in its neutral position, wire 23, contacts 8 and SA, message Wire 15, contacts DA and d wire 2 1, winding of thesignal relay SR, wires 25, 26, 18, 19 and C, back to. the mid-point of battery 10. s The closure of this circuit applies negative polarity-tothe signal relay SR, thereby returning its contact 30 to its left-hand position. 7

Let us now assume that .the dispatcher wishes a westbound train in the single track section 0 to take the side track of the pass ing siding PS. In order todo so he must operate the switch machine and set up west bound traflic. The operator will first operate the switch machine lever LSME to its left hand position, thereby momentarily completingthe following circuit .negative terminal of the battery 10, wires 46, 417, and 50, levercontact LSME in its left hand position, wire 51, contacts 8 and SA, message wire 15, contacts DA and cl, wire 52 winding of the switch machine relay SMR, wires 53, 26,18, 19,.and C,'to the mid-point of battery 10. The completion of this circuit will cause the contact 54 of the switch machine relay SMR to assume its left-hand position,'thereby e'nergizing the reverse wire R and causing the switch machine SME to be operated to its take-siding position. e The dispatcher will then move hislever LDE to the left-hand position, thereby causing thesignal relay SR to be moved .to its righthand dotted position, forreasons heretofore given. Also. with the lever LDE in the left hand position the following circuit for operating the direction relay 'DR to its dotted position is completed :beginning at the negative terminal of the battery 10, wires 46, and 55, Contact LDE its left-hand position, wire 14, contacts 8 and SA, message wire 15, contact DA and dflwire 16, winding of the direction relayDR, wires 17, 18, and

19fand C, back to the'mid-poi-nt of battery 10. The completion of this circuit causes the contact 32 of the direction relay DR to move to'the left hand position, thereby completing the clearing circuit for the take-siding signal 1, which may be traced as follows :'beginning at the terminal B, c0ntact30 of the relay SR, wire 31, contact 32 of the relay DR in its left hand position,wires 57 and 58 switch machine contact 59 assuming its lower dotted'position, wire-60, mechanismof the take siding 1 tocommon return wire C con nected to the other side ofthe battery. The engineer of the train is thus informed that he is to take the siding, and as he enters the same will cause the indicating lampIE in the dispatchers oflice to be illuminated, so I long as he is occupying the detector track circuit. 7 V

Let us now assume that there is an east bound train standing on the side track ofpassing siding PS, and that the dispatcher wishes this train to proceed into the singletrack section 0.- Let us assume-that the lever LSME is inthe left hand position, indicating that the switch machine SME is assuming the take-sidingposition,'and let us further assume that his'lever LDE is in the right hand position, indicating east bound traffic. Under these conditions, for reasons already expla ned. the switch machine will assume the take-siding position and the relays SR and DR will both assume theright hand position, in which case the following circuit for the starting dwarf'signal 2 is completed :beginningatthe terminal B of a suitable source, contact 30, wire 31, contact 32. wire 33, switch machine contact 35 in the dotted position, wire 63, neutral contact 64 of the home relay 2H, polarity contact 65 of this same relay wire 66, signal mechanism of the dwarf signal 2 to common return wire C connected to the other terminal of said source. Also, with the" switch machine assuming the main track position, the signal relay SR assuming the right hand position and thedirection relav DR assuming the left hand position, the following circuit for the signal 1 is completeclz beginning at the terminal B of a suitable batterv, contact 30, wire 31, contact 32 assuming the left hand pos tion, wires 57 and 58. switch machine contact 59 in'its solid line position. wire 67, neutral contact 68 of the home relay 1H, polar contact 69 of this same relay, wire 7 O, mechanism of the signal. 1 to common return wire C connected to the other terminal of said battery. The completion of this circu t efiects clearing of the signal 1. r

It is-thus noted that anyone of the 4 signals 1,122, and 2 may be cleared, or they may be all heldat stop, and that the switch SME may beoperated to either of its positions, all through the medium of two levers and three control channels, through the synchronous selector system. Further, it is noted that occupancy of the detector track circuit is indicated over aseparate channel.

Having now shown and described only a single specific embodiment of the present invention, it is desired to be understood that the specific circuit arrangement illustrated is not necessarily the exact circuit arrangement preferably employed in practicing the inven- 1 tion, but that the particular system illustrated has been selected to disclose an embodiment of the invention rather than its scope or the exact construction preferably employed in practicing the invention, and it is further desired to be understood that three aspect light at a train dispatchers ofiice and the other at a way station connected by a line wire and successively completing a plurality of control circuits, of a lever for including a direct current source of either polarity in one of these circuits at the dispatchers end, a relay of the polar permanent magnet stick type at the way station and in said one circuit, said relay if momentarily energized by current of one polarity assuming particular position un- T til energized by current of the opposite polarity, a track switch at said way station, a switch machine for operating said track witch controlled by said relay, and another relay of the polar permanent magnet stick type controlled over another of said control circuits for controlling a signal providing said track switch assumes the proper position. Y

2. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type; the combination with two synchronously operated contact arms one at a train dispatchers ofiice and the other at a way station connected by a line wire and successively completing a plurality of control circuits; of a lever for including a direct current source of either polarity in one of these circuits at the dispatchers end; a relay of the polar permanent magnet stick type in said one circuit; said relay if momentarily energized by current of one polarity assuming a particular position until energized by current of the opposite polarity; another relay of the polar permanent magnet stick type controlled through the medium of another of said control circuits; two signals one governing the movement of trains in one direction and the other governing the movement of trains in the other direction; a circuit, which it closed causes one of said signals to indicate proceed, closed it one of said relays assumes the normal position and the other relay assumes the abnormal position; a second circuit for causing the other signal to indicate proceed closed when both of said relays assume the abnormal position.

3. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with two synchronously operated contact arms one at a train dispatchers office and the other at a way station connected by a line wire and successively completing a plurality of control circuits, of a three-position lever in the dispatchers otlice for applying current of one polarity to one of said control circuits when in its neutral position and applying current of the reverse polarity to said one circuit when in either extreme position, a polar permanent magnet stick type relay at said way station connected in said one control circuit, a contact on said lever for applying current of one polarity to another of said control circuits when said lever is in one extreme position and applying current of the reverse polarity to said another control circuit when in its other extreme position, another polar relay of the permanent magnet stick type at said way station connected in said another control circuit, two signals one governing the movement of trafiic in one direction and the other governing trafiic moving in the other direction, a circuit for clearing one of said signals closed only if said one relay is in its abnormal condition and the other relay is in its normal condition, and a circuit for clearing the other signal closed only when both of said relays assume the abnormal condition, whereby either of said signals may be cleared or both of said signals held at stop.

4. In a. train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with two synchronously operated contact arms one at a train dispatchcrs otlice and the other at a way station connected by a line wire and successively completing a plurality of control circuits, of a three-position lever in the dispatchers ofiice for applying current of one polarity to one of said control circuits when in its neutral position and applying current of the reverse polarity to said one circuit when in either extreme position, a polar permanent magnet stick type relay at said way station connected in said one control circuit, a contact on said lever for applying current of one polarity to another of said control circuits when in one extreme l position and applying current of the reverse polarity to said another control circuit when in its other extreme position, another polar relay of the permanent magnet stick type at said way station connected in said another V "assess control circuit, a track switch for diverting track switch is in the main track position and i both of said relays are inotheir abnormal po tion; a circuit for sa d s n s na closed only if said track switch assumes the take-siding position and both of said relays assume their abnormal position; a circuit for clearing said third signal closed only if said track sw tch, as umes he, main rook P-Q -l' tion, said one relay assumes its abnormal, pos tl'onand said other relay assumes ts nor mal position; a circuit for clearing said fourth signal closed o nly ifsaid trackswitch as me t k ding Po i i n on th; o

said relays assume the abnormal position; whereby each signal may be cleared separately, and all signals assume the stop position if said lever assumes the neutral posltion, 1 c 7 5. Ina train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combinat on with two synchronously operated contact arms one 'at a train, dispatchers office and the other at" a way station connected 'by a line wire and successively-completing a, plurality of control circuits, of a threerpositionlever in "the dispatchers office for applying G111" ro tt ofone po a y to one ofsa d control circuits when in its neutral position and a yin r n o tho r o polority to sai one circuit when in either extreme pos tion,

a polarpermanent magnet". stick type relay at said waystatio n connected in 'saidione; con- ;trol circuit, a contacton said lever'for appl r ng r nt o one po ari y to a er of said ,control circuits when in' eone extreme polarity tosaidanother control circnit'when position and applying'current of the reverse in its other extreme position, another polar relay of thefpermanent'magne't sticlr type at said way station connected in said another control circuit a track switch tor diverting trafiic either into a 'main tracklor into a sidng; four signals one governingtne movement of traffic oil of the main track, a second signal governing the movementof traific'oif ofthe siding, a third signal governing the movement of traffic onto the main track and fourth signal governing the movement of trafiic onto the siding; a circuit for clearing saidone signal, closed only when said track switch is in the main track position and both of said relays are intheir abnormal position; a circuit for said second v signal closed 1 1 f ai noo oh assum s the akos ing po ion and bo h ofsai i loys som their a orma P i n; o o t o V osamonoporetiog oyolor 7. Con means 1 r oootrollio or tartc eari g said thir ig al clos d o ly if s id tro k. switch as me the m in rack Position, said one-r lay s umes it a normal Posio soid th r role-y a sume i s orma pooitieo io uit for door-ins oidi n si na lo d on y if so rooko ito osu est e, tflliersiding'l s iip l as th. o sol relays assume th ohnonoolr it on; o d t otor t a k. ircuit-inc uding a trook t lay oss o o s itho sid'tiook sw tohszond o book ooo 'o t o oiol br ok lay ioo odod in ones. ith o in cating m ans at hoislisoontr oirouit petohors li nclude in at th d I of sold ,6- 'nt-rol moo s oo o storine signal g vern ng he ontranoo f t efli int mingl -no soot oo vood. controlling o l s n oisoo vern n th mo ement of troflio ootof si ohsing otrook o otion prisms, a doub throw ont-a to oop ret ine w h wosto ionory contact-s ooooootod respecti ely --'.with sa d-start ng s nal sod -.w:i hlsoid, lea in signal, a sooond oontoeto fo anpl oe on rav to, said d ub e throw on oo or, sel tor system operotiv y oon- 'noo insso l ntoot rs wit o r m to Poin tor ntr lling ol oo -oot rsot one r th a other of heir p s n equ nt ally n th log signa gov rn ng th ootro o o tro into a single track section and cnntrolling a lea ing gnal go ing tho mov ment o oflio o t of uoh g e ack. se t on m- Prising, a d le ro o o o tor oooporotins thtw stationary conta ts oonnootod v P respect vely with s d starting si nal and with .sai floovin S nor o s ood ntooto o applying en rgy to ai double throw oontoo or, an a .s l otor sy t m oporot vely connect ng said oon e tor t o'ro -oote poin f r ntr lling aid oontootor from such somotep in to posi i osedoooedi pon th pol r ty of urroot ronsmitt d ovor said selector system. 1 y i a 1 V v oom no -ion, ou loo sw h onnecting the nd o -opo s ne sid ng o o sin l rack sec ion, w arting gn l an tw nt ring sig a g erning respooti oly th mo em nt of: troifio int a d, out i said do s o tra k seotion, o starting signal b och oi!- o to ntering gna liroooh ixooit, o double throno otoo or cont-roll d. in. oooordnoo with th p iti n o s id, trook sito or onne ting sa d, ta t ng signa branc circuit to one or the other of said starting s gnals, a s n i oblo, throwv ooo oot r o trolled accordance with the positioneof eooide m k switch foro nnooting sa d" eneri s; s nal o o ir u t tolo o o th 'oth f s idont ing is oi o hi ddooblo throw .conto o o oPP yiI g electri al ener y t one o hoother of sa d two brooch 'olrooits, fou th oootoot r to cut ng en rgy-rod o ld o-i scoo e o s e ers n o i. y u

eratively connecting said contactors with a remote point for controlling said contactors to one or the other of their positions sequentially in the same operating cycle.

9. In combination, a track switch connecting the end of a passing siding to a single track section, two starting signals and two entering signals governing respectively the movement of traflic into and out of said single track section, a starting signal branch circuit, an entering signal branch circuit, a double throw contactor controlled in accordance with the position of said track switch for connecting said starting signal branch circuit to one or the other of said starting signals, a second double throw contactor controlled in accordance with the position of said track switch for connecting said entering signal branch circuit to one or the other of said entering signals, a third double throw contactor for applying electrical energy to one or the other of said two branch circuits, and a fourth contactor for cutting off said electrical energy, and a se lector system operatively connecting said contactors to a remote point for controlling said third and said fourth contactors from such remote point to positions depending upon the polarity of current transmitted over said selector system.

10. In combination, a track switch connecting the end of a passing siding to a single track section, two starting signals and two entering signals governing respectively the movement of trafiic into and out of said single track section, a starting signal branch circuit, an entering signal branch circuit, a

double throw contactor controlled in accordance with the position of said track switch for connecting said starting signal branch circuit to one or the other of said starting signals, a second double throw contactor controlled in accordance with the position of said track switch for connecting said enter- 1ng signal branch circuit to one or the other of said enteringsignals, a third double throw contactor for applying electrical energy to one or the other of said two branch circuits, and'a fourth contactor for cutting off said electrical energy, a fifth contactor for controlling said track switch to either of its two extreme positions; and a selector system for controlling said third, said fourth and said fifth contactor to one or the other of their positions sequentially in the same operating cycle.

11. In combination, a track switch connecting the end of a passing siding to a single track section, two starting signals and two entering signals governing respectively the movement of trailic into and out of said single track section, a starting signal branch circuit, an entering signal branch circuit, a double throw contactor controlled in accordance with the position of said track switch for connecting said starting signal branch circuit to one or the other of said starting signals, a second double throw contactor controlled in accordance with the position of said track switch for connecting said entering signals, a third double throw contactor for applying electrical energy to one or the other of said two branch circuits, and a fourth contactor for cutting off said electrical energy, a fifth contactor for controlling said track switch to either of its two extreme positions; and a selector system for controlling said third, said fourth and said fifth contactor to one or the other of their positions depending upon the polarity of currents transmitted over said selector system.

12. Control means for controlling a starting signal governing the entrance of trafiic into a single track section and controlling a leaving signal governing the movement of trafiic out of such single track section comprising, a double throw contactor cooperating with two stationary contacts connected respectively with said starting signal and with said leaving signal, a second contactor for applying energy to said double throw contactor, means for independently controlling said contactors in accordance with the po larity of current transmitted from a remote point, and means for controlling the particular signal selected in accordance with trafiic conditions ahead of such selected signal.

13. Control means for controlling a starting signal governing the entrance of trailio into a single track section and controlling a leaving signal governing the movement of traffic out of such single track section comprising, a double throw contactor cooperating with two stationary contacts connected respectively with said starting signal and with said leaving signal, a second contactor for applying energy to said double throw contactor, selector means for controlling said contactors to different positions independ ently and at different time periods in an op erating cycle over the same circuit, and means for further controlling the particular signal selected in accordance with traific conditions ahead of such signal.

14. In combination, a track switch connecting the end of a passing siding to a single track section, two starting signals and two entering signals governing respectively the movement of traflic into and out of said single 7 track section, a starting signal branch circuit, an entering signal branch circuit, contactors controlled in accordance with the position of said track switch for connecting said starting signal branch circuit to one or the other of said starting signals, other contactors controlled in accordance with the position of said track switch for connecting said entering signal branch circuit to one or the other of said entering signals, a third set of contactors for applying electrical energy to one or the other of said two'brench circuits; and a selector system for'controlling said third set of contactor's to select one or-the other of said two branch circuits, said third set of contactorsbeing controlled in accordance with the polarity of current transmitted over said selector system.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

SEDGWIGK N. WIGHT. 

